2 Students Killed in Shooting at New Mexico High School

Students are led out of Aztec High School after a shooting Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Aztec, N.M. (Jon Austria /The Daily Times via AP)

(Newser)
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A shooting at a New Mexico high school left two students dead Thursday morning, KRQE reports. Authorities say the shooter at Aztec High School in Aztec is also dead. According to the Farmington Daily Times, neither the victims nor the shooter have been identified. It's unclear if the shooter was also a student, KOB reports. The New Mexico State Police tweeted that no other injuries were reported, but the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President stated 15 others were hurt in the incident.

"Our hearts break for the victims and their families," New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a statement. "We pray for the survivors, and are grateful to the brave first responders for their heroic actions on the scene." Nearby schools were briefly locked down during the incident. Aztec Mayor Sally Burbridge says there's no additional threat to the community, CNN reports. Thursday's shooting appears to be the most serious in a New Mexico school in years. Two students were wounded in a shooting at a Roswell middle school in 2014.

For those who want to know: The shooter - identified today as 21 year old William Atchison - was NOT a student at the high school (although he had attended there previously). He disguised himself as a student to get into the school. The shooter was WHITE and his 2 victims were Hispanic and were random targets. Because of postings on the Internet, he had been previously investigated by the FBI, but he had no weapons at the time of the investigation - and they figured that he was just "a troll". He had no criminal record, so was able to buy the gun he used LEGALLY - along with multiple magazines. His intent was to kill even more people then himself, but when the gunshots were heard, the students and teachers "sheltered in place" behind locked classroom doors while he kept firing (even reloading his weapon several times) until he finally shot himself. Google his name (William Atchison) and you will find MANY articles about the shooting.

Kasey Greene

Dec 7, 2017 7:43 PM CST

Still no update on the news as to whether the shooter killed himself or was shot by police ....

Chris Gervais

Dec 7, 2017 6:40 PM CST

All right! This has got to stop. We need metal detectors at school doors, police in every school, outside surveillance 24/7 and unbridled counseling to detect any children with issues. We need strong gun enforcement and until then, mom's and dad's parent patrol; armed if necessary preferrably with tear gas. Come on Gov: how long is it going to take for gun control?